Box Score BOX SCORE

The High Point University women's basketball team dropped its first road decision of the year with a 72-69 loss at UNC Wilmington on Monday evening in Wilmington, N.C. The final was HPU's fourth one-possession result in as many games against a Division I opponent.

“We can take a lot from this game here tonight,” head coach Tooey Loy said. “We played a very good basketball team and we are a good basketball team as well. We caused more turnovers and out-rebounded them, but we just didn't make enough shots. It was a great basketball game that we unfortunately came out on the wrong side of.”

Senior Mackenzie Maier had a team-best 18 points and eight rebounds in the game, shooting 4-6 from behind the arc. UNC Wilmington's Brittany Blackwell led all scorers with 28 points to go along with seven rebounds.

High Point took an early 7-5 lead in the game as both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes but the Seahawks used an 8-0 run to take a six-point lead, 13-7, with just over 14 minutes left in the first half.
A layup by sophomore Erin Reynolds broke up the Seahawk run, but High Point was unable to pull even in the game until a three-pointer by Maier tied the game at 22 with a little under six minutes left in the period.

The basket helped to spark a 10-4 run for the Panthers to end the half as HPU took a 29-26 lead into the locker room. Senior Jurica Hargraves had eight points at the break to lead High Point. UNCW's Brittany Blackwell led all scorers with 12 points.

High Point still led by three, 46-43 with 12:35 left in the game when Maier again connected with a three and then hit a 10-foot jumper to spark a 7-0 run and give High Point its biggest lead of the night, 53-43, with 11 minutes remaining.

With UNC Wilmington trailing by eight, 55-47, the Seahawks' Brittany Gamby pulled UNCW back in the game with two-straight three pointers to start a 20-6 run, making the score 67-61 with 4:36 left in the contest.

Down by six with two minutes left, the Panthers scored six-straight points on two free throws by Hargraves and back-to-back layups by senior Frances Fields to tie the game at 69-69. After HPU tied the game, UNCW's Kristen Hanzer answered back with a three pointer to push the Seahawk lead to three, 72-69.

High Point had a look at a game-tying three pointer in the closing seconds, but the shot by Maier hit off the iron and was rebounded by Wilmington.

Fields, Brown and Hargraves all joined Maier in double-figures on the day for High Point with 12 points apiece for Brown and Fields and 10 for Hargraves. Senior Amy Dodd had five assists to lead the team.

HPU set a High Point Division I Record in the game, going 14-14 from the free throw line.

The Panthers continue their seven-game road trip on Friday, Nov. 26, when they play Arkansas on the first day of the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic in El Paso, Texas. The game is High Point's first against an SEC opponent since HPU upset Florida last season. Tip-off against the Razorbacks is scheduled for 7 p.m. mountain time.